Stiffening material for shoes



G. W. BERNAUER.

STIFFENING MATERIAL FOR SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1920.

1,426, 5 38, v Patented g- 22, 1922.

UNHTEE STATES @FFifiE GEORGE W BERNAUER, OF ST. CHARLES, -MISSO'URI.

STIFFENING MATERIAL FOR SHOES.

asses.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. BER- NAUER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Charles, in the county of St. Charles, State of Missouri, have invented acertain new and useful Stifi'ening Material for Shoes, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has for its prime object tip of the vamp during the pulling over and lasting operations.

A further object is the provision of a blank impregnated with a compositlon which is entirely unaffected by climatic conditions or the temperature of the foot during wear of the shoe, is thoroughly water proof, will not stick to the last and will retain the original shape of the toe under hardest usage,

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a plan View of the blank showing its skived edges, and Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of 'an unlastediupper showing the toe-cap,'vamp and linings and the preferred location of the blank with respect to these elements.

In carrying out the invention I combine about two pounds of rosin with one-quarter pound of dry shellac and heat for approximately pne hour at 400 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, then allowing toccool to about 212 degrees. When the latter temperature is reached there is added about one pound of glue, one-quarter pound of dry white-lead and one-half ounce of carbolic acid, the mixture being stirred to intimately combine the several ingredients and the heat maintained substantially at the point last mentioned.

Preferalbly the glue is first softened by standing several hours in alcohol or other solvent diluted with a small quantity of wa ter and is mixed with the lead before addition to the composition as above described, and if it is desired to produce flexi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 8, 1920. Serial No. 422,448.

ble blanks suitable for, the finer grades of dress shoes the. composition is rendered less stiff by the addition of approximately onehalf pint of a softener made of pulverized rosin dissolved in alcohol and then heated to about 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Obviously, if a smaller quantity of the softener is used, ver stiff blanks, adapted for heavy boots an shoes, will be produced.

While the addition of the carbolic acid is not essential it is very useful in that it stops the foaming which ensues on addition of glue and lead and causes the glue to harden quickly after the composition has been applied to the material of which the blank is formed. Preferably the material employed is medium weight flannelette or cotton flannel which is soft and absorbent and this is run through or immersed in the composition while' the latter is hot and then allowed to dry on suitalble racks. I

The blank A. depicted in Figure 1 is cut from the stiffened material by suitable dies and its margin B reduced by skiving or scouring after which it is inserted between the inner and outer linings -D beneath the fore part of the vam E upon which the toe-cap F is stitched at The parts in the flattened condition shown in Figure 2 are first subjected to approximately 200 degrees (Fahrenheit) of dry heat from an electric or gas heater so as to soften the blank for the pulling .over operation and thereafter placed, on the last, within a. toe-steaming machine where the hot vapor serves to soften the leather as well as the blank so that the lasting operation, which follows immediately, may be performed without difficulty.

Havin thus fully what I c aim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. A stiffener for parts of shoes consisting of a suitably shaped blank of absorbent material impregnated with a stiffening composition, comprising rosin, glue and white lead, which renders said blank substantially inflexible when dry and softens upon application of a degree of heat insufficient to injure the leather of the shoe.

2. A stifi'ener for parts of shoes consisting of a suitably shaped blank of absorbent material impregnated with a stiffening composition, comprising rosin, shellac, glue and white lead, which renders said blank substantially inflexible when dry and softens upon application of a degree of heat insufiicient to injure the leather of the shoe,

3. A stifiener for parts of shoes consisting of a suitably shaped blank of absorbent material impregnated with a stiffening com position, comprising rosin, shellac, glue, phenol and While lead, which renders said blank substantially inflexible when dry and soflzens-upon application of a degree of heat insufiicient to injure the leather of the shoe.

4. A stiffener for parts of shoes consisting of a suitably shaped blank of absorbent n1alerial impregnated with a sliffening composieion, comprising shellac, glue and white leadl, which renders saiel blank substantially masses inflexible when dry and softens upon application of a degree olheal insuilicienl to in jure the leather of ihe shoe.

5. A stifi'ener for parts of snoes consist ing of a suitably shaped blank of absorbent material impregnated with a stillening composition, comprising ,shellae, glue, phenol and while lead, which renders said blank substantially inflexible when dry and softens upon application of a degree of heat insnfi ficient to injure the leather of the shoe.

. GEURGE W. BERN! Wi'lnesses RALPH KoY-ILENHARFY, FRANK Liar i we, 

